FIRST BROOM

A little witch learns how to fly a broom after some initial wobbles and woes.

Under a full moon, the excited witch heads out for her first flight. This maiden voyage isn’t easy, and she has to break out her wand to stop the runaway broom. Eventually, the little witch and the little broom work together, and she carefully tries to fly again. George’s simple, rhyming text bounces along. The brown-skinned, pink-haired witch is utterly adorable. Her ensemble alone imbues her with personality, from her forest-green outfit to her flower-laden oversize hat to her magenta boots. The young witch’s expressions are used to great effect. A particularly compelling layout shows bright blue tears brimming in her eyes as she watches other flying witches silhouetted against the moon. The palette largely includes deep shades of purple with gold and blue-green complements. There are no specific references to Halloween, but pumpkins appear in the backgrounds on some pages. The storyline is very much in the spirit of a child learning to ride a bike for the first time; there are struggles and frustrations at first, but ultimately the young witch is exuberant as she successfully takes off. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Vibrant illustrations and a relatable message.